New Ofcom guidance issued for radio broadcasters

Radio broadcasters have been handed new guidance regarding what type of content they can air, reports BBC News.

Telecoms regulator Ofcom was prompted to look into the issue after a number of cases came to its attention when potentially inappropriate content was broadcast at times of day when children may be listening.

People working in London broadcast jobs and other media organisations around the country were told by the organisation that children must be protected from hearing expletives, as well as references to drugs, sex and other offensive language.

“Radio broadcasters should avoid broadcasting lyrics that clearly focus on the taking of drugs, sexual acts or behaviour, or convey a clearly sexualised theme, when children are particularly likely to be listening,” stated the Ofcom guidance.

Mail Online labelled the document “tough” and pointed out that firms have been urged to carry out risk assessments of artists to determine how likely they are to use offensive language.

The BBC was investigated by Ofcom regarding its airing of Radio One’s Big Weekend during the summer due to the number of expletives used by the Black Eyed Peas in their set, but the broadcaster was deemed not to be at fault.

It was found not to have breached guidelines because of the preventative measures carried out and the warnings issued over the course of the programme.